Three persons were burnt beyond recognition on Monday night when a fully loaded petrol tanker burst into flames after a crash in Lokoja, Kogi State.
An eyewitness said the crash occurred around 8:17pm, opposite the Living Faith Church, Felele, along the ever-busy Lokoja- Abuja express road.
It was gathered that the tanker, said to be fully loaded with diesel, was descending the sloppy section of the road when it experienced brake failure which resulted in the truck ramming into another truck, a Dyna pick-up van.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Stephen Dawulung, told newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja that three persons were burnt to death while two other victims were rescued with burns and taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja for medical attention and the corpses deposited at the mortuary.
Dawulung said, “The crash resulted from dangerous driving by the driver who suddenly lost control. The tanker was totally burnt. The Dyna pick-up van that was parked by the roadside and two other vehicles were also affected by the fire.”
The Sector Commander warned drivers of articulated vehicles, especially those carrying flammable substances to always be cautious and drive within the regulated speed limit and also maintain all vehicle safety protocols like the use of safety valves to prevent spillages of content in the event of a crash.
